Transcript of "Compressed Lfcs Agency 2008 Expanded Versioncape"

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Thank You … <ul><li>Lutheran Family and Children’s Services (LFCS) thanks to individuals and businesses for support and sponsorship of our agency through volunteerism and fundraising events over the years. </li></ul>

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G od’s love in J esus C hrist empowers Lutheran Family & Children’s Services of Missouri to help families, children and individuals experience greater hope and wholeness of life.

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WINGS : Women in Need Growing Stronger <ul><li>Current program for women facing crisis pregnancy </li></ul><ul><li>Provides education, referrals, support and counseling to mothers and other family members </li></ul><ul><li>Services are free for women who choose parenting or adoption </li></ul>

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Get Real with Yourself GRWY website has information on both parenting a child and making an adoption plan when dealing with an unplanned pregnancy.

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November is National Adoption Month Mayor Jay Knudsen signing a Proclamation declaring November National Adoption Month

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National Adoption Month November 2009 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 Begin National Adoption Month by celebrating your family’s story! Write it down and add it to your scrapbook. 2 Light a candle as a family for children in foster care who are still waiting for adoptive families. 3 Tuck a note in your child’s lunch bag telling him or her what makes them special to you. 4 Write out a family mission statement. Ask each family member to write down ideas, goals, and dreams for the family. 5 Listen to 960 KZIM on Faune Riggin’s Coffee Break at 8:30am for adoption-related stories 6 Make a special dinner that is common in your child’s native country. 7 Adoption Celebration 9am-12pm The Porch at LaCroix 3102 Lexington, Cape 8 Read adoption-themed poems as a family. Consider writing your own! 9 Donate books about adoption to your local school or library. 10 Contact a children’s organization or foster care agency and ask how you can volunteer. 11 Choose a country and discuss how as a family you may be able to help a child in that country who waits in an orphanage. 12 Create your family tree. Include information about your child’s birth family (if known) as well as your adoptive family. 13 Pass along an adoption article to another adoptive parent or friend. 14 Rent a movie with an adoption theme to watch as a family. Pop some popcorn and make root beer floats! 15 If you have one, ask your place of worship to offer a special prayer for families touched by adoption 16 Subscribe to an adoption-themed magazine or one dealing with a specific culture 17 Adoption Informational Meeting , 6pm LFCS 334-5866 18 If your child was adopted internationally, display the map of his or her homeland in a prominent place in your home. 19 Call your local adoption agency and ask if there is a family who needs mentoring as they wait for a child to be placed in their home. 20 Join an adoptive parent support group in your area. If there isn’t one, consider starting your own. 21 Adoption Storytime Barnes & Noble 10am National Adoption Day 22 As you plan for Thanksgiving, choose one dish from your child’s heritage to include in the meal. 23 Search for music with an adoption theme on the internet. 24 Find an adult adoptee who would be willing to mentor your child. 25 Send a tax-deductible donation to your favorite adoption organization. 26 Thanksgiving Celebrate with family and friends! Take turns sharing something that you are thankful for. 27 As a family, shop for toys and gifts for a toy drive or needy family for Christmas. 28 The holidays are coming up! Make a special ornament for your child’s heritage to include in your decorating! 29 Take a family photo today. Have a copy framed for each member of the family to be placed in his or her room. 30 Donate book bags and/or suitcases to a local foster care agency so kids don’t have to use trash bags when moving from home to home.

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Foster Care <ul><li>39 children were in voluntary foster care </li></ul><ul><ul><li>18 were placed for adoption </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>21 were returned to birth family </li></ul></ul><ul><ul><li>Trained and supported 24 foster families </li></ul></ul>

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Older Adult Services <ul><li>Counseling: Through In-Office and In-Home Counseling a counselor will: </li></ul><ul><li>Help address concerns of sadness and loneliness, depression, anxiety and worries </li></ul><ul><li>Help identify concerns you can’t seem to identify yourself. </li></ul><ul><li>The counselor meeting with you is a licensed professional counselor. Everything discussed is kept confidential and provided to anyone who is a resident of Cape Girardeau county, 60 years and older. </li></ul><ul><li>*Services are provided regardless of church affiliation, race or ethnic background </li></ul><ul><li>“ Memory Matters” </li></ul><ul><li>A group for older adults with early memory loss </li></ul><ul><li>· Hear about causes of memory loss </li></ul><ul><li>· Share coping strategies, feelings, talents </li></ul><ul><li>· Learn memory building techniques </li></ul><ul><li>Thursdays 10 AM—2 PM </li></ul><ul><li>*An individual assessment is required. </li></ul><ul><li>*Weekly sessions cost $15 per week. </li></ul><ul><li> </li></ul> Care Giver ’ s Alzheimer ’ s Support Group This support group provides emotional support for family members caring for a loved one in their home. Free of charge. In our support group we: · Share activities to do with those who suffer from Alzheimer ’ s · Help coping with difficult behaviors · Help deal with gradual declines and losses WHEN: Second Monday of each month WHERE: Lutheran Family & Children ’ s Services 3178 Blattner Drive, Cape Girardeau, MO TIME: 6:30-8:00 P.M. LFCS is a member of the National Alzheimer’s Association. For more information on any of the above services, call (573)334-5866 Ask for Carol Dippold 3178 Blattner Dr. Cape Girardeau, MO 63703

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<ul><li>Advocacy </li></ul><ul><li>- 2006 assisted with keeping subsidy for Missouri adoptive families adopting children with special needs </li></ul><ul><li>-2008 helped put Alternatives to Abortion funding in MO state budget </li></ul><ul><li>2008 helped change adoption law to make the placement of infants easier </li></ul><ul><li>Community Education </li></ul><ul><li> Over 50 speaking engagements completed yearly </li></ul><ul><li>Season of Sharing </li></ul><ul><ul><li>355 families were assisted during the 2008 holiday season in the St. Louis and Southeast Office </li></ul></ul>Serving the Community

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Save Big-Tax Credits You are eligible! You qualify for both state tax credits and state and federal deductions that could lower your out of pocket cost by 75%. Example: If you’re in the 30% tax bracket: If you’re in the 38.6% Tax Bracket: Donation to LFCS $5,000 Donation to LFCS $5,000 Mo Tax credit (minus) $2,500 Mo Tax credit (minus) $2,500 Federal income tax (minus) $1,500 Federal income tax (minus) $1,930 State Income tax (minus) $300 State Income tax (minus) $300 Total cost to you (donor) $700 Total cost to you (donor) $270